©2001 Charles Darby

All those who are in Christ are part of the family of God. Paul, speaking by the Holy Spirit, spoke Grace and Peace to those of the church at Corinth.  He did this even though there was some very ungodly things going on. (See Chapter 5) Paul did not condone these sins, he reproved them. He also was not ready to give up on these. He was not ready to write them off and forget them.

In a natural family it takes much working out of problems to grow into a mature family that is full of love for one another. As we were growing up my brother and I had many fights and disagreements. To tell the truth I did not care to be around him very much. Now that we are grown he is one of the best friends I have.  I love him dearly.

What is the point?  Glad you asked! A church family is much the same as a natural family. As spiritual growth takes place there is much confusion.  Some are still walking according to their flesh and fleshly things will happen. In many places the older Christians want the young Christians to behave as they do.  It may have taken them twenty years to reach that maturity but they want these new ones to be like them. We must let the new ones grow up.  The mature should help the immature.  The strong should help the weak.  The well should help the sick, etc.

I was an insurance man before I retired and went into many homes each week.  Most of the families who did not attend church, it was not because they did not believe in Jesus. It was because they had been wounded in the church. Someone had done or said something that cut them deeply and they had not gotten over it.  They quit going to church. That breaks my heart.

A few years back I prayed and asked God to give us the increase for a certain couple that was living in sin.  At the end of a service, one day, they came forward and asked Jesus into their heart.  Just a few days after that a sister in the Lord started telling them all of the things they would need to stop doing. She meant well but she gave them meat before they were ready for it. They stopped going to church and still don't.  I wept over that. We must learn to use godly wisdom!

Most parents in, the natural, know that a baby, when first born, is a lot of trouble.  Messy diapers, messy with food, messy with most everything.  They are awake when you want to sleep and want their needs met no matter what you are doing.  They are totally dependent on adults for their every need, if they are to survive.

Why should it be any different in the house of God? Those who have grown and matured in Christ should be willing to minister to the young Christian.  I believe it should be with much Love and patience.  If there is sin in the body be very careful less we kill some trying to get rid of it. We should not be pointing the finger at those who are not living as we think they should. Let us be a Christ like example to them and minister with Grace and patience. Help them, feed them the milk of the word so they will grow up to be strong in Christ. If they do mess up and fall let's lift them up with love and do our best to restore them.

We, sometimes, have a religious spirit and expect to find perfection in the church family. My brothers and sisters, there has only been one that fit that mold and His Name Is Jesus! He was the perfect Lamb of God, who did no sin neither was there any guile in His mouth. The rest of us are made perfect in Him. Some of us take longer to grow up into Christ than others. Good as I am some would probably find something wrong with me! (Grin).

Let us walk in love toward all the young and the old. We who are in Christ are of one body and it should not be divided. I would do every thing possible to avoid cutting off one of my fingers. It would happen only to save the rest of my body. Let us have that kind of care for all that is part of the family of God.

Have you been wounded in the Church? Jesus knows what it's like. He was wounded in the house of His friends but He did not let that stop Him from giving His Life for you.  Come back to the Father's house and let the wound heal.  It was not Jesus that hurt you; it was some of His children.  God still loves you and so do those that love Him.

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